A mobile cart can completely transform your home office setup. “How do I create a portable workstation for working from home?” is a question that is often asked on Google. And, we have pulled all the information together into this Guide to help answer that for you.
Whether you’re a remote worker, freelancer, or simply managing household tasks, a well-organized mobile cart puts everything you need close to hand.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about setting up the perfect mobile cart. From choosing the right one to filling it with essentials that can help boost your productivity and keep your workspace clutter-free.
Why Choose a Mobile Cart for Your Home Office?
A mobile cart is not simply for storage; it is a helpful tool to improve productivity. Here is why you should consider a mobile cart.
- Portability: Ideal for shared spaces or moving between rooms or work zones. And, for those with a small office, the cart can be moved out of sight at the end of the work day.
Space-Saving Design: Ideal for the small office home office, the cart is compact yet capable of holding all your essentials.- Customizability: Tailor the setup to match your workflow and style.
Keeping everything organized and accessible helps you focus on work instead of wasting time searching for items. So, whether you need a solution for a small desk or extra storage for supplies, a mobile cart can help. - Easy accessibility: With a mobile cart, you can easily access your office essentials without disrupting your workflow. Thus, also making it a convenient solution for flexible home office setups.
Having your office essentials within easy reach minimizes distractions and keeps you focused, allowing for a smoother and more efficient workflow.
A well-organized workspace means less time searching for items and more time getting things done.
What type of mobile cart is best for a home office setup?
When picking a cart, there are several things to consider.
- Size: Will it fit your workspace without feeling cramped?
- Storage Shelves: More shelves = more storage, but ensure it stays organized.
Material: Metal for durability, wood for style, or plastic for budget-friendly options.- Weight capacity: Ensure the cart can support the weight of your office essentials, including printers, laptops and files, without compromising stability
- Wheel quality: Choose a cart with sturdy, smooth-rolling wheels to allow effortless movement across different floor surfaces without wobbling or getting stuck. Remember, weight capacity and wheel quality go hand in hand, so ensure the wheels are appropriate for the weight.
Top Amazon picks:
3-Tier Metal Rolling Cart
This is a sturdy and versatile cart for any office.
Pros: Although ideal for a home office, this is a versatile cart and can be placed in a bathroom, kitchen, or laundry. It has a drawer at the top for smaller items and two lower shelves for books or larger items, and, it also comes in a variety of colors to match any aesthetic. Additionally, customers love how lightweight and suited to tight spaces it is, and note that it is easy to assemble and take down.
Cons: As it is made from plastic, some customers felt it may not be sturdy enough for larger items.
Rolling Cart with wooden table top
This 3 tier metal utility cart offers storage and a shelf with lockable wheels.
Pros: Two generous basket shelves for storing files and larger items. Made from metal the cart is sturdy, durable and comes in 3 color options. In fact, the wooden table top can easily hold a printer and the lockable castors will keep the cart still while the printer is operating. Customers love how sturdy it is and how easy it is to assemble.
Cons: The top shelf is not overly strong, so consider the weight of your printer before purchasing it.
Art Craft Storage Cart
This 4-tier metal cart with lockable wheels is very generous with space and holds a large amount of items.
Pros: The Art Craft Storage Cart is made from sturdy metal and wood. It also has two different size drawers and two height adjustable wooden shelves. Additionally, the shelves hold up to 35lbs each and the drawers up to 20lbs and 25lbs each.
This cart will hold ALL your office essentials, including your printer! The castors have 360 deg rotation with 2 of them lockable, keeping the cart just where you want it. Customers love how easily it moves and appreciate it’s organization and space-saving ability.
Cons: This is only available in black so it may not suit all aesthetics. However, a coast of spraypaint in your favourite color may do the trick. Some customers found the assembly a little tricky.
Devaise 3 drawer File Cabinet
This engineered wood filing cabinet combines a printer stand, drawers, and shelves for a very versatile mobile cart with style.
Pros: Popular with many customers for its functionality, appearance, and size, this is a larger unit – almost an office on wheels. And, as it is available in 4 different color ways, you will find one to suit your home office.
Our favorite color way is the Greige – check it out! Additionally, it is very sturdy with a weight capacity of 150lbs. As well as generous storage space in two upper drawers, there is a filing cabinet drawer on the bottom.
Cons: The larger size means that you will need to measure before purchasing to ensure it will fit the space you have in mind. Some customers feel the instructions did not indicate how long it would take to put together.
Honey-Can-Do Rolling Storage Cart
This functional plastic and metal drawer cart organizer is very popular with customers, and this item has fewer returns than average.
Pros: A variety of sizes of semi-transparent plastic drawers that neatly and conveniently store office essentials. The two different depths of the drawers are 2.6” and 5.1”. Additionally, the top provides a large work surface or extra storage space. The semi-transparent plastic of the drawers allows you to quickly see what the contents are. The castors are smooth gliding and lock in place.
Cons: Pay attention to the instructions, especially when inserting the castors. Because the two locking castors need to be at the front and, once pushed in place, are difficult to remove.
We have provided a small selection that are available. Once you click through on the link above, you can carry on searching through all the other types and options available. We are sure there will be one that suits your needs, budget, and style aesthetic.
What are the must-have items for a home office cart?
This is the fun part—getting to decide what you want to have in your cart. What goes on your cart is directly related to the items you use on a daily basis. Look at your desk! The things that are out and that have been used in the last couple of days, are the things that should be on that cart.
Consider organizing your cart into categories for maximum efficiency:
- Tech Essentials: Laptop, chargers, headphones, power strip
- Office Supplies: Pens, notebooks, sticky notes, scissors, stapler.
- Wellness Items: Water bottle, small plant, ergonomic wrist rest, hand lotion
So here is an example of what a setup could look like …
- The top shelf could hold tech essentials for easy access.
- The middle shelf could store stationery, and
- The bottom could hold wellness items or less frequently used supplies.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Mobile Cart
Many people get to this point and then wonder how to best set up the cart for maximum efficiency. We will help you create the organized cart of your dreams.
- Assess your workspace: Evaluate your available workspace to determine the best spot for your cart.
- Define zones: Divide your cart into zones for specific categories like tech, supplies, and personal items.
- Storage Accessories: Use desk organizers, baskets, dividers, or hooks for added organization.
- Prioritize Placement: Place frequently used items like pens or a charger on the top shelf for easy access.
- Maintenance: Regularly declutter to keep your cart tidy and relevant.
Pro Tip
The key is to customize your cart to suit your role and function. Writers may prioritize notebooks and pens, while designers might need space for drawing tools and tablets.
This step-by-step method ensures your cart remains functional and tailored to your workflow.
Tips for staying organized:
- Weekly Tidying and Decluttering: Spend a few minutes (it will only take 2 minutes) tidying and removing clutter (items you don’t use anymore).
- Rotate Supplies: Swap out seasonal or project-specific tools.
- Cable Management: Use clips or ties to keep cords neat and organized.
By staying on top of maintenance, you’ll avoid clutter and ensure your cart remains a productivity powerhouse instead of a clutter magnet.
Transform your workspace today!
A mobile cart is more than just storage—it’s a game-changing tool for home office organization. It is portable, customizable, and perfect for maximizing small spaces.
With the right cart, setup, and a little maintenance, you’ll have a workspace that’s functional and stylish. Additionally, helping you stay focused and productive.
Give a mobile cart a go—you might be pleasantly surprised! And if you’re looking for more tips to optimize your home office, explore our related articles or sign up for our newsletter for more inspiration.
Dont’ forget to check out our Articles page for more information on how to keep your office organized, as well as our Pinterest page for hints and tips.
